Apparatus for Mounting Accessories to a Shower Curtain Rod Wall Mount Bracket

ABSTRACT

A shower curtain rod wall mount bracket has a tubular member configured to receive a shower curtain rod. The tubular member has a center axis and the shower curtain rod is received by the tubular member along the tubular member center axis. A wall mount portion is operatively connected to the tubular member. The wall mount portion has a mounting surface configured for mounting the wall mount bracket to a wall adjacent a shower enclosure. The mounting surface is generally perpendicular to the tubular member center axis. A bathroom accessory mount is operatively connected to the wall mount portion. The bathroom accessory mount supports a bathroom accessory that may be, by example, a hook, a tray, and/or a rod.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to the field of shower enclosures and, more particularly, to a shower curtain rod wall mount bracket with a bathroom accessory mount connected thereto. The bathroom accessory mount may attach to a variety of bathroom accessories that may include, for instance, a soap dish, a tray, a mirror, a towel rod, and a clothes hanger support, and/or a hook.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, and illustrate embodiments of a shower curtain rod wall mount bracket with a bathroom accessory mount.

FIG. 1 shows a partial elevational view of a shower curtain rod wall mount bracket, the shower curtain rod and bathroom accessory mount being shown with sectional breaks to show that they be any length;

FIG. 2 provides an alternate elevational view of the shower curtain rod wall mount bracket;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the shower curtain rod wall mount bracket;

FIGS. 4 through 8 show embodiments of bathroom accessory and mounts that may be operatively connected to the shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-3 show a shower curtain rod wall mount bracket 10. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket 10 may be a swivel-type bracket to allow a shower curtain (not shown) to be mounted to a wall adjacent to a shower enclosure 12 and supported in the shower enclosure by a shower curtain rod 14. The wall mount bracket 10 may facilitate use of a curved shower curtain or a straight shower curtain. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket 10 includes a substantially tubular member 16. The tubular member 16 may have a cylindrical hollow interior such that the shower curtain rod 14 fits within the hollow portion of the tubular member. The shower curtain rod may also locate on the outer surface of the tubular member 16. The tubular member inner surface and/or outer surface may be any shape as necessary to facilitate receiving the curtain rod.

The wall mount bracket 10 includes a wall mount portion 18 with a mounting surface 20 to allow the wall mount bracket to be mounted to a wall adjacent a shower enclosure 12. The hollow tubular member 16 is generally perpendicular to the wall mount portion 18. The wall mount portion may have a pivot pin 22 to allow the wall mount portion to pivot relative to the hollow tubular member 16 to form the swivel. To facilitate pivoting, the wall mount portion 18 may comprise a yoke with vertically opposite (in FIG. 3) yoke arms 24,26 that surrounds the hollow tubular member. The hollow tubular member may be formed with a “T” shape with ends 28,30 of the “T” cooperating with yoke arms 24,26 to provide a swivel connection for the wall mount bracket. A center axis 32 of the hollow tubular member center axis may be perpendicular to an axis 34 of pivot of the wall mount portion 18. The wall mount bracket 10 may be provided with a bearing 36 to facilitate pivoting. The wall mount bracket mounting surface 18 may have mounting holes 38 to allow mechanical fasteners to be directed through the mounting holes to the wall adjacent to the shower enclosure 12 to facilitate mounting of the wall mount bracket. The mounting holes 38 in the mounting surface may be arranged generally perpendicular to the pivot axis 34 and parallel to the tubular member center axis 32.

The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket 10 also includes a bathroom accessory mount 50. The bathroom accessory mount 50 is operatively connected to the wall mount portion 18 and supports a bathroom accessory when the wall mount portion is mounted to the wall adjacent to the shower enclosure 12. The bathroom accessory mount 50 may comprise a yoke which fits around the yoke arms 24,26 of the wall mount portion 18. The bathroom accessory mount 50 may be connected to the wall mount portion 18 using mechanical fasteners. The mechanical fasteners may be co-linear with the pivot pin 22 of the swivel and/or may be the same fasteners. While the drawings show the yoke of the bathroom accessory mount 50 sharing the same pivot connection with the swivel, the yoke of the bathroom accessory mount 50 may also be mounted elsewhere on the yoke wall mount portion. The yoke of the bathroom accessory mount 50 may also be welded, brazed, crimped and/or otherwise mechanically joined to the wall mount portion 18.

The bathroom accessory mount 50 may include a rib 52 that extends from the bathroom accessory mount. The rib 52 may be pivotally connected with the bathroom accessory mount 50. For instance, the rib 52 may be fitted with in a bushing 54 to allow the rib to swivel relative to the second yoke. The rib 52 may have a rod portion 56 extending from the rib. The rod portion 56 may support a mirror 58 on its distal end, for instance, as shown in FIG. 4. The rod portion 56 may form a support for a wash cloth or towel, as a towel rod 60, for instance, as shown in FIG. 5. The rod portion 56 may also have an undulating shape to facilitate its use as a clothes hanger support 62, for instance, as shown in FIG. 6. The rod portion 56 may project from a top of the rib 52 (see e.g., FIGS. 4-5) or a bottom of the rib (see, e.g., FIG. 6). The rib 52 may also be configured to support a hook 64 for a towel, for instance, as shown in FIG. 7. The rib 52 may also form a support for a tray 66, for instance, a soap dish as shown in FIG. 8. The bathroom accessories shown in FIGS. 4-8 are meant to be illustrative and not limiting in any sense. Other bathroom accessories may be mounted on the bathroom accessory mount.

Based on the foregoing description, it will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those specifically described herein, as well as many variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing descriptions thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to one or more preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for the purpose of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications or equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shower curtain rod wall mount bracket comprising: a tubular member configured to receive an end of a shower curtain rod; a wall mount portion extending from the tubular member generally perpendicular to the tubular member, a rib extending from the wall mount portion configured to support a bathroom accessory when the wall mount is mounted to a wall adjacent a shower enclosure.
 2. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 1 wherein the wall mount comprises a swivel configured to pivot on an axis perpendicular to the tubular member.
 3. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 2 wherein the wall mount has a mounting surface configured for mounting the wall mount to a wall adjacent a shower enclosure.
 4. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 3 wherein the wall mount further comprising a first yoke extending across the tubular member.
 5. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 4 wherein the rib is operatively connected to a second yoke extending across the first yoke.
 6. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 5, wherein the second yoke is connected to yoke arms of the first yoke.
 7. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 5, wherein the connection of the second yoke to the first yoke comprises the pivot of the swivel.
 8. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 5, wherein the rib is pivotally connected to the second yoke.
 9. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 1, wherein the rib comprises a hook configured to support a towel.
 10. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 1, wherein the rib supports a tray.
 11. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 1, wherein the rib has an extension projecting from a top of the rib in a direction generally parallel to the tubular member.
 12. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 11, wherein the extension has a mirror on its distal end.
 13. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 11, wherein the extension is configured to support a wash cloth.
 14. The shower curtain rod wall mount bracket of claim 11, wherein the extension has an undulating shape.
 15. A shower curtain rod wall mount bracket comprising: a tubular member configured to receive a shower curtain rod, the tubular member having a center axis and the shower curtain rod being received by the tubular member along the tubular member center axis; a wall mount portion operatively connected to the tubular member, the wall mount portion having a mounting surface configured for mounting the wall mount to a wall adjacent a shower enclosure, the mounting surface being generally perpendicular to the tubular member center axis; a bathroom accessory mount operatively connected to the wall mount portion; and a bathroom accessory operatively connected to the bathroom accessory mount.
 16. The wall mount of claim 15, wherein the bathroom accessory comprises one of a hook, a tray, and a rod projecting from the wall mount portion in a direction generally parallel to the tubular member center axis.
 17. The wall mount bracket of claim 16, wherein the rod comprises at least one of a towel rod, mirror, and a clothes hanger support.
 18. The wall mount bracket of claim 15 wherein the bathroom accessory mount is pivotally connected to the wall mount portion.
 19. The wall mount bracket of claim 15, wherein the bathroom accessory mount comprises a yoke operatively connected across the wall mount portion.
 20. The wall mount bracket of claim 15, wherein the wall mount portion pivots relative to the tubular member. 